Lake Geneva Region Summer News 2013
New hotels, traditional markets and a permanent exhibit on the life of Audrey Hepburn are among the highlights of 2013 in the Lake Geneva Region.
Spotlight on Hotel News
Hôtel des Inventions is a new three-star hotel in Ecublens, a suburb of Lausanne. Set to open in early summer, each of its 50 rooms and suites will highlight a different Swiss invention, from Lindt chocolate and bircher müesli to the bathyscaphe of Auguste Piccard. The property is a member of the Hôtels et Patrimoine group.
Le Baron Tavernier, in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Lavaux vineyards in Chexbres, has just completed eight new suites and the new Spa Valmont, with swimming pool, Jacuzzi, hammam and sauna. The hotel offers a wide variety of regional specialties in the traditional restaurant, as well as panoramic views of Lake Geneva and the Alps.
La Maison d’Igor is a new eight-room boutique hotel in the lakeside town of Morges, located in the house where composer Igor Stravinsky lived between 1915 and 1917. Stravinsky composed several notable works here, including Renard. Surrounded by lush gardens, the hotel has opened its new restaurant, La Table d’Igor, with a menu comprised of dishes made with fresh local and seasonal products.
Living Traditions: Markets
Farm-to-table has been a way of life in Switzerland for centuries. The best way to experience this “Living Tradition” today is at one of the open-air markets in the Lake Geneva region. In Yverdons-les-Bains, a food and flower market is held every Tuesday and Saturday, while Wednesdays and Saturdays are market days in both Lausanne and Morges. The most colorful market of all may well be the Marchés Folkloriques de Vevey, held every Saturday from July to September, where visitors can taste wine from the local vineyards in addition to shopping for fresh local produce, cheese, breads and more.
Spotlight on Museums
The actress Audrey Hepburn is the focus of a newly opened permanent exhibition at the Fondation Bolle in the town of Morges, where she lived for nearly 30 years. Objects, photos and other materials have come from Hepburn’s partner, Robert Wolders, and her son, Luca Dotti.
During the ongoing renovation of the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, which promotes the union of sport, art and culture, visitors can board a boat with Olympic exhibits that will be moored at the Ouchy Pier all summer. The museum is expected to reopen its doors in October 2013, after a nearly two year renovation.
La Maison d’Ailleurs in Yverdon-les-Bains is currently presenting its first permanent exhibition, Souvenirs du Futur. Showing the development of science fiction from the 19th to the 21st century, the museum utilizes its collection of more than 100,000 items, including books, cartoons, posters and toys. The exhibit runs until August 25.
The Castle of Prangins, located close to Nyon, has just opened a new permanent exhibition, Noblesse oblige! Life in a Castle in the 18th Century. The exhibit focuses on the everyday life of a noble family in the canton of Vaud at the end of the 18th century, an in-depth look at wealth, property and family life.
The Lavaux Vinorama is a discovery centre dedicated to the Lavaux vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the shores of Lake Geneva. More than 170 wines produced in the Lavaux are on display and each week, a selection of wines is available for tasting.
Spotlight on Festivals & Culture
The 47th Montreux Jazz Festival promises to be one of the best in recent memory, with performances by Prince, Leonard Cohen, Sting, Diana Krall and Kraftwerk, among others. More than 220,000 music fans are expected to attend the festival at the Stravinski Auditorium and Miles Davis Hall from July 5 to 20, 2013.
St. Prex Classics 2013 will take place from August 20 to September 1, 2013, in Saint-Prex on the shores of Lake Geneva, not far from Lausanne. The event features major performers from the worlds of chamber music, ballet and vocal performers on the Luna stage. The revolutionary Luna project, created by the Lausanne Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) was designed to increase temporarily increase seating in the historic medieval town of Saint-Prex while preserving the architecture and the setting. The dome of the Luna stage also provides exceptional acoustics for international performers.
Alt. +1000 festival de photographie is focused on the village of Rossinière in the foothills of the Swiss Alps from July 13 to September 22, 2013. The village is renowned for its 17th- and 18th- century architecture and verdant setting and the second edition of this unique photography festival will contrast this village identity with the inquisitive and provocative viewpoints of contemporary photographers.
The 19th Avenches Opera Festival runs from July 5 to 18th and will feature Giuseppe Verdi’s “Nabucco” in Avenches’ magnificent Roman arena. This festival has evolved into one of Europe’s major opera events, a unique venue for renowned national and international artists who perform in a striking setting that attracts thousands of opera lovers every year.
For more news and information, visit www.lake-geneva-region.ch